Sports

Hoffpauir returns to Stanford for football and degree

Zach Hoffpauir points toward a return to football and a degree in communications. Photo by Jim Shorin/stanfordphoto.com

Defensive back Zach Hoffpauir will rejoin the Stanford football team for the second half of spring practice, beginning Tuesday.

Hoffpauir is leaving professional baseball to return to The Farm for his football senior season and the completion of his Stanford degree.

Stanford's spring academic quarter began Monday.

Hoffpauir, (6-0, 197) played 40 games in three football seasons, beginning in 2012, and helped the Cardinal win two Pac-12 titles. He will be a senior this fall.

Hoffpauir, a communication major, was selected in the 22nd round (646th overall) of the 2015 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

He played for the Missoula Osprey (Rookie) of the Pioneer League and the Class-A short-season Hillsboro Hops of the Northwest League in 2015, batting .258 with three home runs and seven RBI in 17 total games. He is on baseball's voluntary retired list.

At Stanford, Hoffpauir received All-Pac-12 honorable mention honors in both sports. During the 2014 football season, Hoffpauir recorded 44 tackles (25 solo), including a game-high 15 against Washington State.

During the 2015 baseball season, Hoffpauir led the Cardinal with four home runs and a .469 slugging percentage and was third on the team with 23 RBI.